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Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

Fruit Trees and Small Fruits

Why are my high bush blueberry plants not doing well?

Question: I planted six high bush blueberries of different varieties three years ago. This year several of them are growing strangely. Some have a ton of berries, but minimal plant growth. Others had hardly any berries and others appear damaged or sick. Could you provide potential diagnosis and guidance as to how to help them? […]

Can the shoots of my Macintosh apple tree be replanted?

Question: I have an old but productive Macintosh Apple tree. It is beginning to show sun scald and is putting out shoots 2-3 feet from the trunk. I would hate to lose this tree! Can the shoots be replanted and if so, how and when? It is a standard tree, not on a rootstock. Answer: […]

Can you explain what pear scab and pear rust is and how to treat them?

Question: I noticed spots on my pear tree leaves and a lot of the pear fruit was aborted this year. I’m not sure if it is pear scab or pear rust? Or are they the same? How can I treat this? I also have a plum and peach tree in the area, are they at […]

What are some care recommendations for my newly planted fig trees?

Question: I have a hardy species of fig trees, advertised to survive in Zone 6A, that I am going into my second winter with. I have read the guidance as to how to wrap them in chicken wire and pack them in mulch, but I have a couple of questions. 1. Is it correct that […]

Are my older high bush blueberry plants at the end of their productive years?

Question: I have 24 high bush blueberry bushes purchased about 20 yrs. ago (from a reputable garden store). This is the first year their production is considerably lower than in all past years. Should I be concerned that these plants are near the end of their productive years? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional […]

Why do the leaves on my older apple trees have brown spots and are falling off?

Question: My Granny Smith Apple tree has been losing leaves leaving the bottom half of the tree leafless. The leaves have brown spots on them and I can see them dropping off when a squirrel jumps on a branch or a breeze blows through. It has been many years without getting pruned, but has born […]

What are the grayish spots on the surface of my peaches?

Question: I have had a peach tree for six or seven years. This year we seem to have a bumper crop of peaches growing on our tree. However, the majority of them have some grayish spots on the surface which seems to be only on one side of the peach. I have attached three pictures. […]

Why are my apple trees experiencing problems?

Question: We have two apple trees that seem unhappy. They are five years old and this is the first time we’ve seen this issue. What is wrong with them? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional There are potentially a couple of things going on here. The circular spots on the leaves in your first […]

What is causing my peaches to rot?

Question: What do you recommend to treat brown rot on peaches? All of our seven-year-old tree’s fruit has fallen to the ground, half rotten, or rotted when picked to ripen indoors. In late June, many green fruits had tiny extrusions that looked like airplane glue–clear–as well as early signs of rot. Could this have anything […]

How should I treat my pear tree for fungus? Why are the pears cracked?

Question: I have a pear tree in my yard that I keep meaning to treat for fungus. Its branches hang over blueberry bushes and an herb garden. This always makes me hesitant, wondering whether treating the pear tree will hurt the other plants. What advice do you have about that? I assume that I missed […]

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